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With football season about to kick off, it's time to evaluate your tailgating status. Are you the super fan who has all the best tailgate party gear? Or are you the rookie who's busting out a brand new stove? Find out what kind of tailgate party you run, and we'll give youÂ a few ideas for upgrading it.

With football season right around the corner (you can almost hear the kickoff whistle echoing from the stadium), itâs time to haul your tailgating gear out of storage. Chances are you have a trusty stove thatâs both portable and powerful, a heavy duty cooler for maximum beer-holding capacity, and a collection of tried-and-true recipes. Or maybe this is your first season, and youâre trying to decide what you need to kick things off with a bang. Whether youâre a newbie or a veteran, you canât reach MVP status until youâre bringing these items and accessories with you every weekend.

1. Extra bag of chips or pack of drinks

Obviously, you should plan to bring plenty of food. But take special care and set aside an extra bag of chips or six pack. This inexpensive investment can go miles as a peace offering to your tailgate neighbors, especially if youâre a newcomer. Bring it by their tent when you arrive with no strings attached. Youâll make a few friendsâand youâll have someone to ask for help when you realize that you forgot the mustard.

2. Frozen water bottles

Filling your cooler with ice is great for cans of soda or beer, but when it comes to keeping your food cold, you need something that wonât create a puddle. You can buy ice packs for thisâtheyâll stay dry and cold. However, the next-level strategy is to pack your cooler with frozen water bottles. Not only will this keep food cool and dry, youâll also have a half dozen refreshing waters to drink later that afternoon.

3. Wireless thermometer

As the party chef, you could find yourselfÂ pinned to your stove all day, watching the meat like a helicopter mom. If youâre paranoid about hitting the right temperature, you arenât leaving yourself any time for fun. And last time we checked, tailgating is all about having a good time. With a wireless thermometer, you can enjoy the party and keep a close eye on your meat at the same time. Set the desired temperature, insert the meat probe, listen for the notification alarm, and dominate at cornhole until itâs time to eat.

4. Crazy condiments

Ketchup, mustard, mayo, and relish might be classics, but they arenât your only options. Donât be afraid to up your tailgating game with some moreâ¦experimental condiments. Spice it up with BBQ sauce, teriyaki, ranch, and more. If you really want to score with your guests, bust out a homemade spread like artichoke pesto sauce or peanut butter sauce (yes, peanut butter). Trust us, your taste buds and tailgating buddies will thank you!

5. Outdoor screen and projector

You might have a portable TV to watch football games throughout the day; an outdoor movie screen takes that concept to the next level of awesome. Youâll need to bring a power source for your projector, but from there itâs a simple set up. Imagine all your favorite games showing on the big screen instead of your tiny computer. Youâll be the star of the parking lot.

6. First Aid Kit

Okay, okay. This might seem like a no-brainer, but the tailgating pros always put safety first. You never know when you might need some burn ointment after a hot splash of grease or a bandage after flag football gets too competitive.

7. Hand-Washing Station

Once the eating, drinking, playing, and high-fiving is done, you will want to be able to wash and dry your hands. Hand sanitizer is a quick, easy solution. But you can take it a step further with a bottle of hand soap and a 5-gallon beverage cooler as a wash station. Leave a large bucket underneath (or your dirty dishes tote, see below) to catch the soapy water, and voila! You have yourself a full tailgate hand-washing station. For added convenience, hook a paper towel rack onto your stove or grill.

8. Empty plastic tote or collapsible garbage can

When the burgers are eaten and the beers are gone, you only want to think about one thing: winning the big game. What you donât want to think about is washing a pile of dirty spatulas, knives, trays, cutting boards, plates, and other scattered dishes. Cue the empty tub: you can pile everything into it without getting your car dirty, then forget about it until after the game. If you donât have a spare tote, try using a collapsible garbage can like this one. Â Either way, the idea is the same: clean-up in a snap.

Do you have some hacks of your own? Let us know in the comments below or share on social media how youâve taken your tailgating game to pro status.

This is the season to create the ultimate tailgating scene. This is the season to beat your co-worker in the most brats, hot dogs, and hamburgers cooked. This is your season to be the master of tailgating. Here is your game plan to take any competitor head to head and take home the win.

Tailgating season is in full swing. With games in aboundance you want to be able to enjoy the game but that is tough to do on an empty stomach. And, if you're watching the game in the parking lot, it is hard to hear what is going on with your generator running.

For over two decades we have worked to make cooking outdoors just as enjoyable as the outdoors themselves. To do that we have worked to develop a large array of stoves to keep people cooking at camp, on the back patio, in the duck blind, and while out on the open road.